Republican Senator Chuck Grassley on Wednesday urged President Biden not to “fire all President Trump’s attorneys in the United States” amid ongoing investigations, after the Justice Department said this week that Trump-era federal prosecutors they would be forced to resign from office by the end of the month, urging him to “take the time and do it right”.
Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote a letter to the president on Wednesday, saying that Biden is “obviously within his rights to do so, but four years ago similar action by then Attorney General Sessions made my fellow Democrats sound. the alarm.”
BIDEN DOJ WANTS DC TO UPDATE US ATTORNEY TO MAINTAIN SPECIAL ATTORNEY ROLE TO CONTINUE THE MOTIMITY PROBE
Grassley pointed to Senate Democrats urging Trump not to interrupt ongoing cases and investigations, saying he was “getting in the way of the administration of justice.”
“I agree with many of these concerns,” wrote Grassley. “It is a pity that you are taking these steps without replacements being announced. It is also worrying that your government has not consulted the home state senators on this decision and that some of these US prosecutors may be involved in sensitive investigations.”
Grassley specifically pointed to US Attorney John Lausch in the Northern Illinois District, who is overseeing the state’s ComEd corruption investigation in the state – a “significant bribery case,” said Grassley, who “allegedly potentially implicates the former mayor. from Illinois, Mike Madigan. “
Federal prosecutors said last year that utility company ComEd admitted to providing jobs or contracts “to several associates of a high-level official elected by the state of Illinois.” Although Madigan’s name was not mentioned, a federal court case identifies the officer as the mayor of Illinois.
Prosecutors say the purpose of the alleged scheme was “to influence and reward the employee’s efforts to assist ComEd with the legislation concerning ComEd and its businesses”. In a press release, the US Public Prosecutor’s Office said that “Public Employee A” influenced lawmakers regarding legislation that impacted ComEd. At this time, Madigan has not been charged and has not been formally charged with wrongdoing.
The $ 200 million fine for ComEd is part of a deferred lawsuit settlement that the company signed. The investigation of the alleged scheme continues, and Madigan’s office confirmed that he received subpoenas for documents related to work recommendations, while insisting that he did nothing wrong.
Madigan has served in the state legislature since 1971. He took office as mayor for the first time in 1983 and has held office since, with the exception of two years in which Democrats lost the majority. He has been the longest serving mayor in the country. His daughter Lisa also served as the state’s attorney general.
“Mr. Madigan, of course, is widely regarded as Illinois’ Democratic political ‘chief’ and an ally of former President Obama,” Grassley wrote. “Therefore, it is especially important that this investigation can proceed in a way that does not even give the appearance of Washington’s political interference.”
Grassley went on to say that Biden is “the president and the president is, as a rule, entitled to an administration”.
BIDEN DOJ ASKS US TRUMP-INDICATED LAWYERS TO DEMONSTRATE AT THE END OF THE MONTH
“That includes the Department of Justice. But in the interests of the rule of law and the confidence of the American people in the impartial application of the law, I would recommend that you not just fire all of President Trump’s attorneys, except the two most obviously sensitive – Durham and Weiss, “said Grassley.
“Take the time to do it right. See who has important investigations underway – like Lausch – and make sure that the American people have confidence in the independence of the Justice Department, ”said Grassley.
A senior Biden government official told Fox News on Tuesday that 56 U.S. attorneys have until February 28 to resign – with the exception of attorney David Weiss in Delaware, who oversees the federal investigation into Hunter Biden’s “tax affairs” and Lawyer John Durham, who is investigating the investigation in Russia. Durham will resign as a United States attorney, but may continue his investigation as a special attorney.
“We are committed to ensuring a seamless transition,” Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson said in a statement. “Until the US prosecutor’s nominees are confirmed, interim and acting leaders in the US prosecutor’s offices will ensure that the department continues to fulfill its critical law enforcement mission, vigorously uphold the rule of law and pursue fair and equitable administration. impartial justice for all. “
The Justice Department said earlier this year, “almost all presidential nominees from the previous administration have offered their resignations, although US prosecutors and marshals have been asked to stay in office temporarily.”
The DOJ said that before the transition process began, approximately one-third of the United States prosecutor’s offices were already led by interim or interim leadership.
The Justice Department said the president will make an announcement about Senate nominations “as soon as the information is available”.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked on Tuesday about Weiss and Durham, and said these “decisions were made to fulfill his promise to maintain independence”.
Fox News also learned that the Department of Justice wants the acting US District Attorney for the District of Columbia, Michael Sherwin, to leave his post at the US Attorney’s Office in DC, but make the transition to Chief Justice to serve in some kind of special prosecutor to continue overseeing the Capitol violation investigation.
Sherwin oversaw the proceedings arising from the Capitol rebellion on January 6.
Sherwin promised “to bring as many charges as we can based on conduct.”
Overall, federal authorities have accused more than 150 people in the siege of the Capitol.
Last week, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked Wilkinson to “refrain from interfering” in the Durham investigation and Hunter Biden’s federal “tax affairs” investigation while the Senate works to confirm Biden’s candidate to head the Justice Department.
The Senate is currently processing the appointment of Judge Merrick Garland to the position of attorney general.